Thursday, August 6, 2009
Politics / Clout City / News Sandi Jackson for Lieutenant Gov?
Posted by Mick Dumke on 08.06.09 at 05:49 PM
Sandi Jackson is just halfway through her first term as alderman of the Seventh Ward, but she's looked restless in the City Council from about her second week on the job. Now it sounds like she's contemplating a run for Illinois lieutenant governor.
From a newsletter Jackson sent this afternoon to supporters:
Sandi Jackson for Lieutenant Governor?
While I am absolutely committed to representing the people of the 7th Ward as Alderman and Committeeman our organization has to remain engaged during this important election season.
I have been approached about the possibility of aspiring [sic] a new generation of activists across the state of Illinois and making history as the first African-American woman Lieutenant Governor. Currently our organization is circulating petitions for various political positions in the state including Lieutenant Governor. Please contact Jarvis Houston at 773-731-0000 or friendsofsj1@gmail.com for more information and to become involved as a SWIPO canvasser.
So what does that mean? Is she going to circulate petitions for the job or not? Is she pulling a Newt Gingrich and waiting to see how many adoring fans step up to urge her on? I called her office but was told someone would have to get back to me.
All of which reminds me that it's been awhile since her husband, aka congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., aka the "beast," has been heard from around these parts—which is probably the best way to do his thing and hope people stop thinking of him as "Senate Candidate 5." But it would be a lot like Junior to try to put one of his allies—which I think you could say the alderman is—into a higher-profile gig even as he's staying more or less quiet.
Maybe it won't end up being lieutenant gov, but I'd expect to see Alderman Jackson going for something else soon. Even devotion to her spouse isn't going to keep her pent up in the Chicago City Council much longer.
UPDATE: Alderman Jackson's chief of staff, Bonita Parker, has since issued a statement: "Alderman Sandi Jackson has not made a determination, although she has been encouraged by a number of individuals to explore the opportunity. Alderman Jackson will make a determination about participation at a later date."
Comments (7)
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Be aware. This is an absentee Alderman. She and her husband have a house in the 7th Ward, but reside full time in Washington DC. The kids are enrolled in DC schools, not in Chicago as she promised during the campaign. She flies in for City Council meetings and some committees, but is rarely available in her community. This is not someone who knows her area of Chicago, let alone the state of Illinois.
like
dislike"Alderman Sandi Jackson ... has been encouraged by a number of individuals to explore the opportunity."
2 is a number
That loud pop was the sound of the pin piercing the trial balloon.
The media are such trained seals. The Jacksons get a free informal poll and intro without spending a dime on pollsters.
Run Sandi Run!!! Will your husband ,Jesse Jr, give you his going rate for endoresement? $20,000.00 for HIS poll, $5000.00 for HIS cut out picture Billboard and 5 free Karate lessons. Plus , if you kick in a extra Million Dollars, he will make you a State Senator.
"This is an absentee Alderman."
Jackson lead all alderman in missed meetings in 2008, the only full calendar year of her term as alderman, missing 3 of 16 meetings, 19%.
http://citycouncil.chicago.il.us/attendanc…
Jackson told WBEZ she spent her 1st year looking for the ladies room.
Jackson: "I think that there is an educational process that has to take place. You know, you've got a new group of aldermen who are very new to politics. A lot of us did not hold office before. So there's certainly a learning curve that people have to go through when you first get there. You got to figure out where the bathroom is, and, you know, it's been a very busy, very frenetic pace for a lot of us."
http://morsehellhole.blogspot.com/2008/05/…
http://wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=23042
I hope Quinn or someone on his staff can show Sandi where the powder room is, god forbid we lose another year without an LT.
Actually, my respect for Jackson rose slightly on this newsletter. Should one find oneself a Chicago alderman, the most important thing one can do for one's career is try to figure out how to get the hell out of there before your reputation is completely ruined. Ocasio had the right idea.
